The season with Autospeed drew to a close at the United Downs Raceway, where almost 100 drivers were in competition.
Stock Rods
From pole position, 642 Simon Jones swept to the Grand National Championship. Jones drove a faultless race, and despite a gallant attempt by 92 Adam Daniels to get on terms, he was never quite close enough to mount a telling challenge as the gap between the two leaders ebbed and flowed as they encountered backmarkers. Third place went to last year's winner of the Grand National title, 37 Barry Trickey. The two Allcomers races which followed brought wins for 545 Nick Lane and 555 Greg Radmore.
Ministox
Slightly reduced numbers for the Ministox saw the junior racers adopt an all-in format. Both heats followed a similar pattern, with 935 James Flint setting an early race, only for a late caution period to bunch up the field and nullify his advantage. On each occasion, 991 Ryan Hoskin took the lead to clinch back-to-back victories which sealed his Track Championship success. Come the final, however, and Flint was not to be denied. He charged away for a flag-to-flag win, with Hoskin the runner-up and 907 Ben Sillifant in third place. For four drivers, the final was their last Ministox outing with Autospeed, and yet the only one of the quartet to be placed was 994 Kirstin Stone, who took eighth.
Bangers
The largest ever car turnout of Autospeed Bangers at St Day, contested their traditional end of season event, the Supreme Championship fixture. Having qualified for pole position, 246 Ryan Sparks made that advantageous starting position count, as he leapt into an early lead. Behind Sparks, there were a number of drivers in early pursuit - 113 Chris Jeanes, 117 Ollie Starr, 154 Barry Pike and 607 Gary Sillifant. As the leaders approached the backmarkers, Sparks swiftly cut his way through them, to extend his advantage at the front. Jeanes and Starr emerged as the main challengers to Sparks, but they were finding it difficult to keep with the leader. As more and more drivers retired to the infield, and the track started to become less cluttered, the chances of Sparks being held up diminished, and although Jeanes had him in his sights in the closing stages, Sparks was in command. The chequered flag fell on Sparks, and Jeanes and Starr took second and third respectively.
During the afternoon, there was also a heat and final double for 45 Mike Reed, which earned him a promotion to the star grade, and another double success for 775 Tom Clark, who took the consolation and the Allcomers, on his St Day track debut.
Heat 1 |
45 |
143 |
927 |
13 |
947 |
717 |
820 |
429 |
451 |
877 |
Heat 2 |
675 |
22 |
654 |
318 |
87 |
185 |
928 |
804 |
716 |
nof |
Supreme |
246 |
113 |
117 |
154 |
677 |
60 |
556 |
282 |
991 |
78 |
Consolation |
775 |
379 |
415 |
235 |
4 to final |
|
|
|
|
|
Final |
45 |
117 |
379 |
78 |
154 |
804 |
991 |
282 |
246 |
113 |
Allcomers |
775 |
991 |
117 |
333 |
877 |
175 |
379 |
511 |
74 |
354 |
Best Presented |
53 |
451 |
785 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grade Awards |
W 654, 235, 185 |
Y 60, 22, 877 |
B 45, 379, 78 |
R 117, 246, 154 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GNC |
642 |
92 |
37 |
221 |
909 |
193 |
545 |
40 |
555 |
151 |
Allcomers 1 |
545 |
151 |
555 |
54 |
34 |
642 |
37 |
221 |
40 |
92 |
Allcomers 2 |
555 |
54 |
151 |
545 |
34 |
909 |
642 |
37 |
40 |
221 |
Heat 1 |
991 |
935 |
903 |
953 |
954 |
907 |
989 |
966 |
996 |
945 |
Heat 2 |
991 |
935 |
954 |
907 |
945 |
903 |
989 |
996 |
953 |
916 |
Final |
935 |
991 |
907 |
903 |
945 |
916 |
986 |
994 |
923 |
nof |